Liverpool v Burnley - A Quick Liverpool Perspective
Liverpool v Burnley A Liverpool Perspective
This was a game that ended with the first crystal clear evidence that the Anfield crowd have turned against what Slot is doing, though their ennui was such with slow sideways and backwards passing that even the boos were half-hearted and short-lived. It has been coming, as results have just not improved, while performances are still as turgid as ever for long periods. Slot's preference for slow, controlled football, is absolutely killing the atmosphere, which is usually such a big part of Liverpool's success. It is hard to get excited when you are bored.
The sad thing is that there is no one to blame but Slot himself. Even if he has not been given the central defender that the team clearly needs, the team Slot has can do more and showed as much in the first half. That first half was among the best performances of the season, with Liverpool getting in behind the Burnley backline a number of times and creating openings, as well as getting a penalty which Szoboszlai crashed against the bar. That should have been the blueprint for the second half, but unfortunately LFC had taken the lead and Arne, in his infinite wisdom, always wants them to sit back when they take a lead. To slow the game down and to be more disciplined in attack, with less freedom for Wirtz, in particular, which completely stifles the team and puts pressure on the weakest link - the defence.
It is more and more obvious by the game that a change of head coach is needed, now it is just waiting for those with the power to make change to do so. Sadly, there just is no way back because Slot does not understand Liverpool FC at all, he has not realised that the key to long term success is to harness the crowd and ignite their passion. He does not seem to be learning lessons from what is happening, he just always wants to revert to the slow, boring, tedious passing around at the back for the sake of passing football that he favours.
Maybe it could have worked if his man-management was better and he had got the players onside and playing for him. Their lack of enthusiasm is clear in the way so many of them are out of form at once. One or two playing badly is almost certainly down to the player/s, but when you have almost an entire squad underperforming, well then that has to be laid at the door of the manager. There was so many good signs in the first half, it is frustrating to see that Slot messes with it at half-time and sets it all back to the same dross that has let him and the fans down all season. It was there in his hands at half-time to go on and take a big step forward, but it does feel like his heart is not in it and so he does not understand how that affects things. It makes me wonder if the big mistake was letting him leave his family behind in Holland, a Premier League manager's job is too much, too full on to be doing it without the close support of a family when things go wrong. Just ask Jose Mourinho.
On the game itself, one other thing I have to mention is the officials. Again. The incompetence is stunning now. These are not amateurs. These are not part timers. They are highly paid and trained yet they are absolutely useless. There is a huge amount of inconsistency in some things, but one thing they do consistently fail at is making decisions on contact on defenders. All any defender has to do is throw themselves to the ground if an attacker gets near them, immediately the referee gives them a free kick, no matter if there is any foul involved or not. It is ridiculous and really ruining any attempts to have an exciting, entertaining, attacking match, when attackers are so often punished for nothing. It is both teams that get the decisions, both are hampered by them when trying to build up an attack.
Burnley
The Clarets must be delighted to have come away from that with a result after offering almost nothing throughout the 90 minutes. They had just two short periods in the game where they even attempted to take the game to Liverpool and had just one shot on target. Burnley looked exactly like what they are - a terrible Premier League team playing to keep the score down in every game. Apart from those two spells, they simply sat back and looked to defend. The problem was that they simply are not good enough to defend for 90 minutes and Liverpool got behind them and in at them a number of times, though failed to make the most of their chances. Against a team in better form and full of confidence, Burnley would have got a spanking, but they were not facing those and so came away with a result that they can celebrate and use as a springboard to survive.
At least, they could if they had a manager with balls, but unfortunately they have Scott Parker in charge, who will do exactly the same in every game - sit back and hold on and hope. That attitude will see them go down with little real chance of survival because they will not attack enough to win, and they need wins to stay up, not more draws.
Liverpool
Alisson - he was mostly redundant, other than when the players passed back to him, but his kicking still looks a bit off. Made a blinding point blank reaction save from Konate, but could do nothing with the goal, so not a particularly good game overall.
Frimpong - looked very good going forward, though needs work on his final ball, but his defending is suspect still. That is fine against Burnley, who made little in the way of even attempting to attack, but better teams will cause problems if he is not given help from midfield.
Konate - his near own goal was just one of those things, but the rest of his game still worries me. It is still too easy for the opposition to attack him. He inspires no confidence at all. He was asleep and allowed the run for the goal. His positional sense is almost non-existent. He is far too reliant on van Dijk to talk him through the game for such an experienced player.
van Dijk - in the first half he was good, played some nice longer passes, but that vanished in the second half and his initial error in giving a weak header in the direction of Kerkez, that was picked off by Burnley, led to Konate's near own goal.
Kerkez - he is getting better as the games go by but has still yet to reach anything like the level he was at last season, his play is just far too restrained.
Szoboszlai - not one of his better performances, though far from a bad game for him, just not at his outstanding best. Firstly there was the penalty, which he smashed against the bar, then there was his constant ruining of counter attacks by slowing the play to walking pace. It was not what was needed at all.
Gravenberch - last season he was excellent as the holding midfielder, if he had been playing there in this match, instead of pushing higher up the pitch, I would have expected him to be in a position to have broken up the play ahead of Burnley's goal. He did not have a poor game particularly, but it is just such a dip from the performances we know he is capable of.
Gakpo - I know he has become something of a whipping boy among the fans, but I thought he was decent against Burnley, though far from great. One thing I do not understand though is that he is taking corners all of a sudden. For one, he is tall and strong in the air. For another, he is terrible at delivering corners. The set piece coach has been sacked, but still the problems remain with regards to them.
Wirtz - it seems to be becoming a theme for him. Excellent in the first half when given freedom to roam, then Slot orders him to hold on the wing and be more disciplined and it destroys his second half. He is not a winger, why try and force him to sit out wide where he is not able to really threaten? I do not understand it.
Jones - watching him always leaves me thinking that there is so much more to come from him. He always plays far too safe and, of course, takes too many touches. He is so much better than that, he has shown it on occasions, but if he keeps playing like this he will only ever be, at best, a rotation option.
Ekitike - linked up really well with Wirtz in the first half and the pair look really dangerous. He is, at times, the only one providing any movement for the midfield to pick out.
Ngumoha - took the place of the Gakpo in the 78th minute. Needs to work on his end product, but he did have the beating of the full-back.
Robertson - replaced Kerkez in the 78th minute. He was, once again, awful. I love him for all he has done, but it is time for him to move on, which is why I find it incredible that he has even been offered a new contract by the club. He is simply not good enough any more.
Mac Allister - was brought in on the stead of Gravenberch in the 78th minute. At least he shot, I suppose, but they were very hit and hope and most of them were just a waste with better options ahead of him.
Chiesa - came on for Jones in the 87th minute. It is just so pointless bringing him on constantly so late in the match.
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